gosh, I just logged on and saw 19 pages of this and thought Malkin actually got traded or something. phew...

on topic, I say do everything you can to keep Malkin, then entertain offers down the road if trouble lies ahead with the cap. Like one of the posters said, Malkin makes us a 2 line team, while if we give away Malkin to afford Hossa and others, I feel like we turn into the Tampa Bay Lightning.

ulf wrote:gosh, I just logged on and saw 19 pages of this and thought Malkin actually got traded or something. phew...

on topic, I say do everything you can to keep Malkin, then entertain offers down the road if trouble lies ahead with the cap. Like one of the posters said, Malkin makes us a 2 line team, while if we give away Malkin to afford Hossa and others, I feel like we turn into the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The thing about the Lightning is Brad Richards completely fell off the face of the earth and kept them a one line team with Lecavalier and St. Louis.

ulf wrote:gosh, I just logged on and saw 19 pages of this and thought Malkin actually got traded or something. phew...

on topic, I say do everything you can to keep Malkin, then entertain offers down the road if trouble lies ahead with the cap. Like one of the posters said, Malkin makes us a 2 line team, while if we give away Malkin to afford Hossa and others, I feel like we turn into the Tampa Bay Lightning.

If we keep Malkin, Hossa, and Crosby, we will be like Tampa.

You can keep Hossa and get some great players for Malkin.

Staal is a very capable, yet different 2nd line center. He would do just fine. I think we would have two very, very good lines if you get the right deal.

If you keep Malkin, (if he is asking for the max), you may have two elite centers, but no one to play wing with them. I don't see that as two good lines.

ffs guys malkin got 106 pts and lacks motivation... I believe he is the best in the nhl potential wise and if he keeps playing for the pens he will be a legend but.... I just don't see another team offering him max because of his inconsistency

Jesse wrote:This is an "out of sight - out of mind" argument. People forgot what Crosby was capable of because he was missing for a good part of the year.

Sidney Crosby is one of the most dynamic and competitive hockey players I've ever seen. His fire is so great that he can be downright embarassing sometimes with his antics.

People forget that Crosby was roughly 10-12 points ahead in the scoring race when he got injured. It took Lecavalier nearly 4-5 games to surpass him after the HAS.

Malkin nearly won the scoring title this year and he still couldn't get close to the 120 big ones that Crosby put up last year.

Crosby has a sixth sense about the game and dynamic vision that Malkin will never have. It's innate. Malkin can bury the puck and charge through defenders, but Crosby can lift a team like no one I've ever seen. When the Penguins were down and out against the Red Wings and couldn't score a goal, he elevated his game to a level that I've never seen.

Sure, Malkin had a great regular season with Sid out, but even then, he never got to the level of intensity and gamesmanship that Crosby has.

The man is a born leader. Malkin doesn't posses that quality.

Jesse: I usually agree with mostly everything you post and appreciate your contributions on this board. This, however, is a weird post in my opinion.

"When the Penguins were down and out against the Red Wings and couldn't score a goal, he elevated his game to a level that I've never seen. "

Whaaat? The 06/07 Crosby was better than this year's versions. He dominated game after game. You saw a level you've never seen? VS Detroit? I don't get what it was you saw, I really can't agree with you. Crosby had some great moments in some of the games vs Detroit, but come on he's been significantly better. That last top level of intensity and creating of scoring chances that he's spoiled us with was not seen as consistently as last year, or maybe I should say before the injuries.

Maagwa wrote:ffs guys malkin got 106 pts and lacks motivation... I believe he is the best in the nhl potential wise and if he keeps playing for the pens he will be a legend but.... I just don't see another team offering him max because of his inconsistency

After "finding himself", when was he inconsistent? Only when he was sick.

ulf wrote:gosh, I just logged on and saw 19 pages of this and thought Malkin actually got traded or something. phew...

on topic, I say do everything you can to keep Malkin, then entertain offers down the road if trouble lies ahead with the cap. Like one of the posters said, Malkin makes us a 2 line team, while if we give away Malkin to afford Hossa and others, I feel like we turn into the Tampa Bay Lightning.

If we keep Malkin, Hossa, and Crosby, we will be like Tampa.

You can keep Hossa and get some great players for Malkin.

Staal is a very capable, yet different 2nd line center. He would do just fine. I think we would have two very, very good lines if you get the right deal.

If you keep Malkin, (if he is asking for the max), you may have two elite centers, but no one to play wing with them. I don't see that as two good lines.

No, never. Tampa's timing sucked. The cap was set at 39 mil right after they had signed all of their big three. The cap is now expected at 56 mil...

Maagwa wrote:ffs guys malkin got 106 pts and lacks motivation... I believe he is the best in the nhl potential wise and if he keeps playing for the pens he will be a legend but.... I just don't see another team offering him max because of his inconsistency

After "finding himself", when was he inconsistent? Only when he was sick.

Maagwa wrote:ffs guys malkin got 106 pts and lacks motivation... I believe he is the best in the nhl potential wise and if he keeps playing for the pens he will be a legend but.... I just don't see another team offering him max because of his inconsistency

After "finding himself", when was he inconsistent? Only when he was sick.

Evgeni Malkin was the most consistent Penguin all season. I don't know where this inconsistency stuff comes from either.

newarenanow wrote:Staal is a very capable, yet different 2nd line center. He would do just fine.

Staal has to prove himself, because right now he's barely a 3rd line center (offensively). A second line center has to score. Staal didn't do any scoring this season. Looks like he may turn out as a very good, defense-oriented, 3rd line center, but there is nothing, nothing, so far to show me that he is capable of carrying the #2 line.

Maagwa wrote:ffs guys malkin got 106 pts and lacks motivation... I believe he is the best in the nhl potential wise and if he keeps playing for the pens he will be a legend but.... I just don't see another team offering him max because of his inconsistency

After "finding himself", when was he inconsistent? Only when he was sick.

Thats what he and his agent want people to think

Oh come on, that's ridiculous (spelling). After game 1 vs the Flyers he went from dominant to a slower turn over machine. It was as if someone found the off button. That extreme difference doesn't tell you something?

Everyone keeps talking about offer sheets but players have only been offered contracts about 5 times in nhl history and last year it happened twice by a moron that was trying to save his job. Sakic, Fedorov and welsey were the others. it doesnt happen that often and no one even knows if anyone would even offer malkin a offer sheet.

Maagwa wrote:ffs guys malkin got 106 pts and lacks motivation... I believe he is the best in the nhl potential wise and if he keeps playing for the pens he will be a legend but.... I just don't see another team offering him max because of his inconsistency

After "finding himself", when was he inconsistent? Only when he was sick.

Thats what he and his agent want people to think

Oh come on, that's ridiculous (spelling). After game 1 vs the Flyers he went from dominant to a slower turn over machine. It was as if someone found the off button. That extreme difference doesn't tell you something?

Nobody goes from scoring 17 points in the first 10 playoff games to just scoring 5 in the next ten playoff games without a nagging injury.

ulf wrote:gosh, I just logged on and saw 19 pages of this and thought Malkin actually got traded or something. phew...

on topic, I say do everything you can to keep Malkin, then entertain offers down the road if trouble lies ahead with the cap. Like one of the posters said, Malkin makes us a 2 line team, while if we give away Malkin to afford Hossa and others, I feel like we turn into the Tampa Bay Lightning.

If we keep Malkin, Hossa, and Crosby, we will be like Tampa.

You can keep Hossa and get some great players for Malkin.

Staal is a very capable, yet different 2nd line center. He would do just fine. I think we would have two very, very good lines if you get the right deal.

If you keep Malkin, (if he is asking for the max), you may have two elite centers, but no one to play wing with them. I don't see that as two good lines.

No, never. Tampa's timing sucked. The cap was set at 39 mil right after they had signed all of their big three. The cap is now expected at 56 mil...

Other notable differences:

Pens are a contender in a hockey city. TB declined quickly in a non-hockey market. Not a good formula for attracting a supporting cast.

The cap was much tighter and they could not afford ANYONE else of consequence.

Pens already have a lot of supporting players. TB lost many of theirs after they won the Cup.

The Pens will probably always get a bargain player for a 1-2 year contract trying to up his value on the following contract.

Kicksave wrote:To be completely honest, if we got Kopitar AND Brown in a deal for Malkin - from a pure business standpoint I'd have to consider it. Neither are Malkin-level players but it would be a damn good package. And if it allowed us to keep Hossa, it's all the better. You'd essentially be getting Hossa, Kopitar, Brown and picks for Malkin. Hossa on Crosby's wing is damn near Malkin-level.

doublem wrote:Everyone keeps talking about offer sheets but players have only been offered contracts about 5 times in nhl history and last year it happened twice by a moron that was trying to save his job. Sakic, Fedorov and welsey were the others. it doesnt happen that often and no one even knows if anyone would even offer malkin a offer sheet.

Yeah thats because players like Malkin don't reach RFA status. If malkin became an RFA, teams would sign an offer sheet. A player of his caliber is easily worth potentially burning bridge.

HeyNow71871929 wrote:Bottomline is, if it come down to Hossa or Malkin, you let Hossa walk. Malkin is much more valuable right now and will be in the future. Gino makes us a 2 line team, Hossa makes us a one line team.

HeyNow,

I know we've gone round and round on this topic, but it does not come down to Hossa or Malkin....it comes down to Malkin or Hossa.......and a whole lot more. Hossa walks for nothing. Malkin doesn't.

Keeping Malkin doesn't ensure us two effective scoring lines because it wasn't the case until Hossa was brought in. After Crosby returned from injury, 90% of his production was on the PP. Until Hossa arrived, the first line was virtually non-existent at even strength.

This whole issue comes down to whether or not you believe; (1) the Pens will be able to keep Malkin and Crosby long term (i.e. Malkin wants to play in Crosby's shadow), (2) if the Pens would be wise to devote so much salary to two players and (3) will doing so prevent them from filling other keys roles, and in doing so ultimately hurt the franchise.

Like I've said before, to me, this league is now about depth and balance. I see Malkin as a guy who will want his own team to lead. I also think it will be in the Penguins best interest to move Malkin long before he forces them to. The benefit of considering a trade now is obviously not only to maximize the return, but also to keep Hossa, who may well be a crucial piece to the Pens in coming years. I'm not sure I see the sense of bringing in a guy like Kopitar though; I think the Pens would be wiser to look for players that could be signed long term for more reasonable contracts, i.e. Johnson and O'Sullivan. LA certainly is a logical partner, with the #2 pick and young guys like Dustin Brown and Jack Johnson, but for all we know McGuire is spreading this rumor after reading these boards.

HeyNow71871929 wrote:Bottomline is, if it come down to Hossa or Malkin, you let Hossa walk. Malkin is much more valuable right now and will be in the future. Gino makes us a 2 line team, Hossa makes us a one line team.

HeyNow,

I know we've gone round and round on this topic, but it does not come down to Hossa or Malkin....it comes down to Malkin or Hossa.......and a whole lot more. Hossa walks for nothing. Malkin doesn't.

Keeping Malkin doesn't ensure us two effective scoring lines because it wasn't the case until Hossa was brought in. After Crosby returned from injury, 90% of his production was on the PP. Until Hossa arrived, the first line was virtually non-existent at even strength.

This whole issue comes down to whether or not you believe; (1) the Pens will be able to keep Malkin and Crosby long term (i.e. Malkin wants to play in Crosby's shadow), (2) if the Pens would be wise to devote so much salary to two players and (3) will doing so prevent them from filling other keys roles, and in doing so ultimately hurt the franchise.

Like I've said before, to me, this league is now about depth and balance. I see Malkin as a guy who will want his own team to lead. I also think it will be in the Penguins best interest to move Malkin long before he forces them to. The benefit of considering a trade now is obviously not only to maximize the return, but also to keep Hossa, who may well be a crucial piece to the Pens in coming years. I'm not sure I see the sense of bringing in a guy like Kopitar though; I think the Pens would be wiser to look for players that could be signed long term for more reasonable contracts, i.e. Johnson and O'Sullivan. LA certainly is a logical partner, with the #2 pick and young guys like Dustin Brown and Jack Johnson, but for all we know McGuire is spreading this rumor after reading these boards.

Yes, Hossa gave a big boost to the first line but you can find good players for crosby to play with in FA, sure they wont be as good but def. capable wingers. Rostlon, Stillman are guys that would good next to sid and a few other out there.

And whose to say L.A. would even make that trade giving up Kopitar, Brown, Johnson and a pick would really hurt that team and they wouldnt have a second line either. Teams just dont make blockbuster trades anymore its just easier to fill holes in FA.